Intracranial germinoma with Down's syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Surg Neurol. 1997 Jan;47(1):28-31. doi: 10.1016/s0090-3019(96)00152-8.

Abstract

Background: Down's syndrome's association with malignancies such as leukemia is well known, but its association with brain tumor appears to be rare. We reviewed such rare cases of Down's syndrome and intracranial germ-cell tumor.

Case report: A 10-year-old boy with Down's syndrome and intracranial germinoma located in the left basal ganglia is reported. The patient presented with right hemiparesis and was treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide, and irradiation.

Conclusions: We speculate that the percentage of germ-cell tumors is high among Down syndrome patients with brain tumors and that the most common site is the basal ganglia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Basal Ganglia* / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Child
  • Down Syndrome / complications*
  • Down Syndrome / pathology
  • Germinoma / complications*
  • Germinoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male